Mayor Mamdani activates heat emergency plan with dangerous temperatures on the way

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Mayor Zohran Mamdani has activated a heat emergency plan, launching a coordinated, proactive interagency response across all five boroughs to prepare New Yorkers for historically high heat indices that will begin Wednesday.

Under the plan, the city says it is taking expansive action to activate hundreds of cooling centers and cool options, intensify outreach and support to vulnerable New Yorkers such as the homeless and older adults and ready New Yorkers for the heat.

"We're staring down what could be the second hottest day in New York City history in over a decade - and City government is taking historic measures to keep all New Yorkers indoors, cool and safe," Mayor Mamdani said.

The forecast shows a clear arc to this heat wave, projected to last about five days, peaking on Thursday and Friday. During that stretch, heat index values could climb between 105 and 110 degrees. An excessive or extreme heat watch has been extended from Wednesday through Saturday, underscoring just how serious conditions could become.

Click here for the latest advisories, watches and warnings from the National Weather Service

As a result, the city is launching the following initiatives:

Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans, operated by NYC Health + Hospitals, will provide mobile cooling resources directed to our most vulnerable New Yorkers. The vans provide wellness checks, medical care, water and other supplies such as electrolytes and sunscreen, as well as transport to cooling centers or healthcare facilities. COOL vans will also be dispatched to perform in-home wellness checks on older adults. More than a dozen vans will be operational Wednesday.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will operate Health Action Centers and Overdose Prevention Centers as cooling centers.

DOHMH will expand pop-up cooling stations through partnerships with community-based organizations with cold water, misting fans and cooling towels for outdoor workers including street vendors, deliveristas and day laborers working in the heat.

More than 2,200 LinkNYC Kiosks will display real-time walking directions to the nearest cooling center - a new initiative created by the Mamdani administration.

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will message all of its licensees - about 45,000 businesses across 45 different business categories- encouraging heat illness plans, warning about the dangers of extreme heat and signs of heat exhaustion and reminding employees that they can use Protected Time Off for heat-related emergencies.

In addition, the Department of Homeless Services willoperateCode Red outreach from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. during all heat advisory days. This will ensure all unsheltered homeless vulnerable clients receive outreach from DHS teams. Outreach teams also distribute water and other essential supplies. Anyone who sees a person experiencing homelessness who may needassistanceis encouraged to call 311.





The city is also reminding New Yorkers that public beaches are free and open daily with lifeguards on duty between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The city's outdoor pools are free and open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the heat emergency, and Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools will be open for anadditionalhour to 8 p.m.

The mayor is encouraging New Yorkers to sign up for Notify NYC by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 so you can stay up to date with the latest weather and information.

You can also find more information on New York City Emergency Management's website.



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